Joan has consulted author Stewart O' Nan on a book about F. Scott Fitzgerald and his time as a screenwriter at MGM. The novel is called "West of Sunset". Joan was sought out by the author for her experience at working at the MGM studio. " He would show me a layout and photos and ask me: Where is this building located, which entrance did I use, where did the screenwriters sit during their lunch hour.." The screenwriters, according to Joan, preferred sitting amongst themselves and had their own tables.
Clark Gable
While having lunch with Joan she was reminiscing about the lunch breaks during her time working at MGM. She would take lunch at the MGM cantine, the screenwriters would sit together most of the time but everyone else mingled. Movie stars would be there too and mingle, nobody paid special attention to them. But when Clark Gable showed up people couldn't help but notice him. "Everyone turned and looked. Some people have charisma, and Clark Gable had an immense amount of it." Joan said.